Correcting outdoor light.

[_Mitch_]

I have a motion sensing flood light mounted on the outside of my garage that I'm thinking is wired wrong. It looks like it's hardwired to an extension cord that is drilled through a stud and plugged in with the garage door opener. I'm finishing the inside of my garage with tin and I'd rather have the wire ran inside the wall, through the ceiling. On the outside of the garage the light is mounted center between the garage doors so I'd rather not move it and have to fix the siding but I'm not sure how to run wires around the studs. Also, is there supposed to be a box behind the light? I'm guessing since it's mounted so close to the studs it doesn't currently have one.

In this picture, the black wire running into the studs is what I need to move.

 

[nadogail]

I am not surprised that someone skipped using a box to mount the light on Weekend Warrior "handymen" fond of whatever Quick and Dirty lazy way to get any job done.

The supply for the light should be a cable approved for the purpose, typically NM-B. We drill studs to pass the cable through to allow your finished wall to conceal the cable.

As for powering the light from the same circuit that feeds your garage door opener, IMHO that is barely acceptable, but being permanently plugged into the receptacle with a cutoff extension cord is not. A pancake box can be set into your exterior wall (the light should cover it when reinstalled) and a run of NM-B to the receptacle the feeds your garage door opener, connect the new cable to the circuit feeding the existing receptacle. That is what I would do if I were called to fix your problem.

 

[_Mitch_]

Nadogail, as for drilling studs I've seen wires ran when you drill through the 2" direction of the stud but not the 4" direction. Compared to the picture the light is mounted centered where the black wire goes through the stack of studs.

For mounting a box, are you saying to recess a pancake box through the sheathing when looking at the wall from the outside? That would work except for the light is directly over a stack of 4 studs which is what has me stumped since I'm trying not to move the light.

It's vinyl siding so I've thought about looking for a mounting block big enough to put a box inside which might give me enough room to run a wire around the stack of studs, however for it to be that big it would probably look kind of ugly.

 

[Bert_]

Drill the hole at an angle.

 

[sparky 1971]

It's already been stated, but drill the hole at an angle up and towards the gap between the studs. Then get an after the siding has been installed light block. I use the style made by Arlington Industries and carried by Menards, but I'm sure other manufacturers and suppliers have them also. The box is built into it. It mounts over the siding, drill the hole, run the wire, mount the light, and you are finished.

https://www.menards.com/main/electrical/electrical-boxes-covers/electrical-boxes/dutch-lap-siding-mounting-kit/8171-1m/p-1444424265554-c-6425.htm?tid=3422353187878178679&ipos=7

8171 - Arlington 8171 - Dutch Lap Mounting Kit

Arlington 8171 - Dutch Lap Mounting Kit - Siding mounting kit with built in electrical box. 6.8 cubic inch box.Kit includes NM cable connector. 4 mounting screws. For dutch lap siding. 6.6 x 6.6 octagon.

www.supplyhouse.com

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

I'd put an exterior box on the outside with a short ****** and bed it on duct seal. To run NM-B Drill the hole at an angle to the narrow gap between those studs. Then a hole from there thru the top plate if the circuit/box you want to connect to is in the ceiling.
Or drill through the studs if you are connecting to a box on that wall.

 

[yeldogt]

You will need to take the light off and see how it's installed -- you can use one of the pre made blocks or make one out of 5/4 with a pancake box inset if there is a stud there ... bend a drip cap and push it up. You may get lucky and it's there -- I'm betting no if they used an extension cord

As to inside ... you can use the same hole and bend the wire around ... how are you going to do above the doors? there is a lot of wood to help put there ..... drilling a side hole or just boxing just above where the wire come in will allow you to sneak the wire into the wall area -- drill holes in the visible studs to the left above the door.